“Odds and Ends” Flapjack

Helen's Flapjack

I love flapjack; it’s tasty, oats are good for you, and as this recipe proves, you can add almost anything (within reason). I had quite a few “last bits” left of a few ingredients, so decided to whack them all together in a flapjack. Apologies for the lack of precision with this recipe, I measured things in handfuls, but you really can make it up as you go along, adding a bit more of something if necessary.

 

Ingredients

  • A couple of big handfuls of oats
  • A big scoop of butter
  • A glug of golden syrup
  • A slight sprinkle of caster sugar

“Odds and Ends Ingredients” (this is just what I had left in the cupboard)

  • A handful of raisins
  • A handful of leftover muesli
  • A handful of leftover strawberry crunch cereal
  • A few pieces of honeycomb
  • A handful of cashew nuts

Method

  • Preheat the oven to 180°C.
  • Combine all the dry ingredients in a bowl, adding a little more of anything that looks too less. It’s a good idea to have more oats than anything else as the flapjack will bind better this way.
  • Next, in a saucepan, melt the butter and golden syrup over a very gentle heat.
  • When the butter has just melted, carefully pour the syrup mixture over the oats and stir until fully combined.
  • Ensure all the dry ingredients are covered with the syrup mixture, if not, melt a little more butter and syrup and add until it is. I had to add a little more butter, as otherwise the flapjack would have been very crumbly.
  • Transfer into a lined baking tin and gently press the flapjack down.
  • Bake in the centre of the oven for about 20-25 mins or until golden brown.
  • Carefully take the flapjack out of the oven and with a knife, score down the flapjack where you want to divide it into pieces, then leave it to cool in the tin. This just makes it easier to cut properly once it’s fully cooled.
  • Leave to cool then enjoy!

Caramel Sauce

Caramel sauce is delicious and can be used in so many recipes, or just eaten straight out of the jar!

This is a deceptively simple recipe- the sauce requires only 3 ingredients and it is all made in one pan- but the timings are tricky and it gets dangerously hot. Remember to wear long sleeves and stir wearing an over glove/tea towel- as I know from a  previous time, burning caramel on your arm  is VERY painful and will scar.

Ingredients:                                                     

150g caster sugar

25g dark muscovado sugar

2tsp water

3tbsp(heaped) butter

100ml double cream

Method:

Heat the sugar and water in a large saucepan and whisk until the sugar melts and the water evaporates. When the caramel turns a  dark amber colour add the butter and continue whisking. Then remove from the heat and add the cream- it will boil up and possibly spit so be careful! Whisk and gently heat for another half a minute. Allow the sauce to cool and tranfer to a jar (or other container, but jars look nicer). Store in the fridge but it can be heated up in a microwave-safe container for a warm treat.